The meeting between Pompeo and Kim may also chart a possible second meeting between the two leaders. At a campaign rally on Saturday, Trump seemed to signal he was open to the prospect, when he spoke about the “beautiful letters” he had received from the North Korean leader. “We fell in love,” he said.

Nauert said Trump's effusive comments were a positive sign for diplomacy. “I think if our leaders have relatively friendly relations, that that's a good thing,” she said. “That that can only help us to achieve our final goal.”